Page 60 of Guardian

Gabriel suddenly jumped from his barstool and spun around.

Winter’s heart beat into her throat as she, too whirled around. She hadn’t heard anything that would warrant the vampire’s reaction, but now she saw what had alerted him.

Two people, a man and a woman, stood in the living room, both armed with daggers and looking dangerous. Winter’s gaze flew to the door. It was closed. She quickly reminded herself that these two intruders couldn’t be demons, because they couldn’t walk through walls, nor could they cast a vortex on the fourth floor of a building. Which meant they had to be Stealth Guardians.

“Hamish? Enya? What the fuck?” Gabriel ground out and immediately put himself as a shield in front of Winter.

Shit! Something had gone wrong at the council, and now they were coming for her!

“Hey, Gabriel,” the woman said. She was petite, with long blond braids that wrapped around the back of her head. “Good to see you.”

“Yeah, well, I’m not so sure I agree,” Gabriel said hesitantly. “What do you want?”

The broad-shouldered man with dark hair and a stubble beard cleared his throat. “We came for the psychic. Let’s make this easy, okay?”

“Easy? Easy for whom? You know that I can take both of you and win, or have you forgotten that?”

“We haven’t,” Enya said with an easy smile. “That’s why we’re asking nicely.”

Gabriel scoffed. “You know I can’t give her to you. I’ve sworn to protect her.”

“We know,” Hamish said. “And now we’re here to take over for you.”

“On whose authority?” Gabriel asked.

“A word, Gabriel,” Hamish said.

Gabriel glanced back at Winter. “Stay back.”

“Gabriel, don’t,” Winter warned.

“Do as I say.” He lowered his voice. “Don’t worry, they can’t trick me. I’m faster and I’m stronger.”

Then he walked toward the two intruders who were still standing casually near the front door.

Winter tensed, expecting the two Stealth Guardians to overpower Gabriel, but nothing happened. With lowered voices, Hamish and Gabriel spoke, but Winter could only make out a few fragments, such as psychic, council, and Logan.

Her heart was pounding out of control, the seconds ticking by in slow motion. Something was wrong, seriously wrong, because suddenly Gabriel looked over his shoulder and addressed her.

“Hamish and Enya will take you with them. They won’t hurt you. You can trust them.”

Trust them?

Trust the Stealth Guardians who wanted her dead and Logan tried for treason?

“No!” she screamed. “No!”